CSE HOUSE KEY VOTE(S): SUPPORT TOUGH BUDGET ENFORCEMENT

Dear Representative:

On behalf of the 360,000 members of Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), I urge you to vote in favor of tough budget enforcement mechanisms to control spending when the House of Representatives considers H.R. 3973, the Spending Control Act of 2004.

H.R. 3973 represents a good start for budget enforcement, and we also support a number of amendments to strengthen the overall legislation. With the deficit at $470 billion, it is time for the House to demonstrate that it is serious about cutting and controlling spending. That is why CSE is KEY VOTING in SUPPORT of the following possible amendments:

• Joint Budget Resolution (Ryan/Gutknecht): Convert the concurrent budget resolution into a joint budget resolution that is signed into law by the President;
• Entitlement Cap (Hensarling): Limit growth in entitlement spending to the current inflationary adjustment for each program and population growth;
• Family Budget Protection Accounts (Ryan-Wis.): Allow Congress to target spending during the appropriations and direct spending processes and allow that spending to be redirected for deficit reduction; and,
• Enhanced Rescission (Ryan-Wis.): The rescission process would be enhanced so the President can propose the elimination of wasteful spending in appropriations bills and these proposals would be given expedited legislative consideration.
• Substitute H.R. 3800: A comprehensive budget reform bill, which has more than 100 cosponsors, will be offered as a substitute for H.R. 3973.

CSE will count the votes on these Amendments as KEY VOTES to be reported to our members in your state. KEY VOTES are be used to determine your eligibility for our Jefferson Award, to be presented at the conclusion of the 108th Congress. This award is provided to those legislators that espouse the CSE principles of limited government, lower taxes, and more freedom.

Sincerely,

Matt Kibbe
President
Citizens for a Sound Economy
www.cse.org